Single point fueling and defueling system



March 1, 1955 F. E. AMON, JR

I SINGLE POINT FUELING AND DEFUELING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ,E'ederich F. (lawn .71: BY

MM, U a-r611. blur Y M ATTORNEYS March 1, 1955 F. E. AMON, JR 2,703,138

SINGLE POINT FUELING AND DEF'UELING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 28. 1950" 3 SheetS-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS March 1, 1955 F. E. AMQN, JR

SINGLE POINT FUELING AND DEFUELING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 28. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR B M, 6216A. ,lluwrmmf ATTORNEYS United States Patent SINGLE POINT FUELING AND DEFUELING SYSTEM Frederick E. Amon, Jr., Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Parker Appliance Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 28, 1950, SeriaI'No. 203,047 7 Claims. (Cl. 158-365) The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a single. point fueling and defueling system for two or more tanks.

An object of the invention is to provide a fueling system for two or more tanks wherein the tanks may be simultaneously filled from a single point and the fueling of one tank stopped when filled to a predetermined level without disturbing thefilling of the others.

A further object of the invention is to provide asystem of fueling one or more tanks which can be readily used for transferring fuel from one tank to another or in defueling all of the tanks through the main conduit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fueling and defueling system of the above type wherein the conduits for fueling and defueling are entirely separate from the fuel lines leading to the place of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system of the above type for fueling and defueling wherein the main conduit is disposed above all the tanks with a branch conduit extending into each tank to a point adjacent the bottom thereof and with a branch conduit disposed outside of the tanks and extending downwardly to a point below the tanks for fueling and defueling connections.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation showing the improved system of fueling and defueling as applied to a main and an auxiliary tank and also a tank which may be used for storage of'fuel and the transfer of fuel to the main tank;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed view in section of the nozzle connection for fueling and defueling the tanks;

Figure 3 is a detailed view in vertical section of the valve housing and valve for stopping the flow of fuel into the main tank from the pressurized tank when the main tank reaches a predetermined level;

Figure 4 is a view showing the lower end of the defuellling conduit and the float control valve associated there- W1 Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the housing connecting the defueling conduit with the branch supply conduit and the valves associated therewith;

Figure 6 is a view showing a slightly modified arrangement of the valves in the main supply conduit so that the fuel from the pressurized tank may be delivered into the main tank through the regular supply conduit;

Figure 7 is a further modification of the supply conduits for the main tank and the pressurized tank and showing a different arrangement of valves for controlling the fueling and defueling; and

The invention has to do with a system of fueling and defueling tanks. In Figure l of the drawings there is shown a main tank A from which fuel may be drawn for use, an auxiliary tank B from which fuel may also be drawn for use, and a storage tank C which, as illustrated, may be used for replenishing the fuel in tank A. Associated with these tanks is a fuel conduit 10 which is provided with a branch pipe 11 extending into the tank A. This pipe extends all theway to the bottom of the tank and may be 'used for supplying fuel to the tank or for defueling the tank. There is a similar branch pipe '12 which extends all the Way to the bottom of the storage tank C, and there is a similar branch pipe 13 which extends all the way to the bottom of the auxiliary tank B. Fuel is delivered to this main conduit 10 or drawn therefrom by a branch pipe 14 which extends to a point below 2,103,138 ZPatented Mar. 1, 1955 the three tanks. Attached to the lower end'of this branch pipe 14 is'a valve housing 15 connected to a suitable supporting means 15. This valve housing'and the valves associated therewith is shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 2. Within the housing 15 is a spider 16 carrying a sleeve *17 in which the valve stem 18 is mounted for reciprocation. The valve stem is provided with a valve19 which is adapted to engage a valve'seat 20 surrounding an opening in the valve housing. The purpose of this valve 19 is to close the opening through which fuel may pass into the housing or out of the housing and in particular to prevent fuel from passing out of the valve housing when thenozzle is disconnected from -the system. 'A spring 21 normally seats the valve.

The housing has a depending sleeve 22 to which a nozzle 23 may be attached. The attachment ofthe nozzle to the sleeve is accomplished by an outer rotatable sleeve 24. The sleeve 24 is manipulated by means of handles 25. Within this nozzle 23'is a spider '26 and a valve stem 27 is supported by the spider for longitudinal reciprocation therein. Mounted on this valve stem is a valve 28 which is adapted to engage a valve seat at the end of the nozzle. The valve stem 27 has an extension 29 and a sleeve 30 carrying-a rack bar 31 is mounted on the extension which There is a spring 32 mounted on this extension which spring bears at its lower end on a nut 33 fixed to the extension and at its upper end against the sleeve 30. A pinion 34 on the shaft 35 meshes with the rack member 31. A crankhandle 36 on the outer end of the shaft 35 is adapted to be manually turned for moving the valve 28 away from its valve seat, thus opening the nozzle for the flow of fluid therethrough. This movement of the valve 28 causes the valve 19 to be raised and provides an opening through which fuel may pass into or out of the housing 15. This nozzle attachment per se forms no part of the present invention. It is shown more in detail in the patent granted Robert H, Davies, August 22, 1950, No. 2,519,358.

When it is desired to supply fuel to the tanks, the nozzle 23 is attached to this housing and this nozzle connects with a source of fuel supply which is under suflicient pressure tocause'the fuel to flow through the main conduit and its branch conduits.

The branch pipe 11 extending into the main tank is connected to a coupling 37. This coupling is shown in detail in Figure 5. The coupling has a port 38 which receives the upper section of the branch conduit 11. It also has a port 39 which receives the lower section 11 of the branch conduit 11. There is a third port 40 which is connected through the elbow 41 with the float'valve housing 42.

There is a check valve 43 pivoted at 44 in the coupling which is adapted to close the port 39 and prevent flow of fluid downwardly through the port 39 to the lower section 11 of the conduit 11. This valve 43 will open under suction and permit fuel to flow upwardly through the conduit section 11 for the defueling of the tank. At the lower end of this section 11 is a float control valve 45 which is pivoted at 46 to lugs 47-47 carried at the lower end of the conduit extension 11 Connected to this valve 45 is a rod 48 carrying a float ball 49. When the tank A contains fuel to a point above the swing of the float ball 49 the valve 45 will be retained in open position. This permits fuelto be drawn from the tank to a point adjacent the bottom until the float ball 49 drops and closes the valve 45. By this arrangement a small portion of the fuel in the tank will be retained when defueling and this will prevent the drawing of fuel from the pipe leading to the places of use.

In Figure 1 there is a pipe 50 which leads to the place of use which, of course, is the power equipment when the tanks are employed in an airplane. When defueling, that is, when drawing the fuel from the tank through the extension 11 the valve 43 moves to open position and a valve 51 controlling the port 40 will move to closed position. On the other hand, when supplying the tank with fuel the valve 43 will close and the valve 45 will open to allow the fuel to flow into the float valve housing 42. This float valve housing 42 is shown more in detail in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. The housing has an opening 52 surrounded by a valve seat 53. A

valve 54 is adapted to engage the valve seat 53. This valve is carried by the diaphragm 55 carried by the valve housing. A spring 56 normally presses the valve against this seat. There is a restricted opening 57 through the valve and there are openings 58 in the valve housing beneath the diaphragm so that when the valve is open fuel will flow into the housing beneath the diaphragm and out through the openings 58 into the tank. The fuel will also pass through the restricted opening 57 into the chamber 59 above the diaphragm.

The valve housing 42 is divided into two chambers by means of a partition wall 60. Extending through this partition is a passage 61. A valve stem 62 extends through this passage and carries a valve 63. When the valve is in raised position the passage will be closed and when the valve drops then the passage will be opened and will connect the chamber 59 with the valve housing above the partition. There are openings 64 in the wall of the valve housing above the partition. These openings lead to the tank. There is a float 65 pivoted at 66 which is connected to the upper end of the valve stem 62. When the tank is filled with fuel it enters these openings 64 into the valve housing and will lift the float to the position shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7. This closes the passage and when the passage is closed then the chamber 59 is a closed chamber and the pressure of the fluid passing through the restricted opening will cause the valve to close and prevent further flow of fuel passing into the tank.

The float control valve in tank B for cutting off the supply to the tank when the fuel reaches a predetermined level in tank B is exactly the same as the float control valve shown in connection with tank A and which has been described in detail above, and like numerals in general have been applied to this float control valve and housing.

The float control housing in tank C is likewise similar in construction to the float control housing and valve arrangement in tank A and like numerals have been generally applied thereto.

All three of the tanks shown in Figure 1 may be fueled at the same time and the supply of fuel to each tank will be cut olf when the tank reaches a predetermined level. This will be accomplished for any one of the tanks without disturbing the fuel supplied to the others.

Associated with the tank A is a vent pipe 67. This vent pipe 67 is connected to a branch 68 which is open to the atmosphere.

The tank B has a similar vent pipe 76 which is connected to the same branch pipe 68. The conduit 13 leading to the tank B has a coupling 37 therein containing check valves which are exactly the same as those shown and described in connection with Figures 1 and and like numerals have been applied thereto. The conduit 13 has an extension 13 with a float control valve similar in construction to the float control valve shown in connection with the tank A and shown in detail in Figure 4 and like numerals have been applied to this float valve. There is a fuel pipe 50 leading from the tank B to the pipe 50 so that fuel may be drawn from this tank B through the pipe 50 for use by the power equipment.

The branch conduit 12 leading to the storage tank C includes a coupling 37 similar in construction to that shown in Figure 5. This branch conduit 12 also has an extension 12 leading to the bottom of the tank and a float control valve 45 also similar in construction to the extension 11 in the tank A and the float control valve thereon and like numerals have in general been applied thereto. In this storage tank C there is a housing 42 and in this housing is a float control valve which is similar in construction to the housing and float control valve shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7 and like numerals have been applied thereto. There is a pipe 77 connected to the tank C through which air or gases may be directed into the tank under pressure when it is desired to transfer the fuel in this tank to the tank A. When these gases under pressure are admitted to the storage tank the fuel will pass through the extension 12 the coupling 37, to the main conduit 10. At this time the check valve 43 will be opened and the check valve 51 will close. Associated with the tank A as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 is a valve housing 78. The valve housing includes a valve 79 carried by a diaphragm 80. This valve is pressed into engagement with the valve seat controlling the port 81 by means of a spring 82. There is a partition 83 which divides this housing into two chambers. A chamber 84 above the partition and below the diaphragm carrying the valve and a chamber 85 below the partition. The valve has a restricted opening 86 therethrough. There is a port 87 through the partition and a valve 88 which is adapted to close this port. There is a float 89 connected to the valve 88. There are openings 90 connecting the chamber 85 with the interior of the tank. The main conduit 10 includes a four-way coupling 91. The coupling extension 92 is connected to the tank and the float valve housing 78.

There is a check valve 93 in the coupling. There is a by-pass conduit 94 connected to the coupling and to the conduit 10 at 95. There is a hand valve 96 in this bypass conduit which is shown in closed position in Figure 1. When it is desired to transfer the fuel from the tank C to the tank A gas under pressure is permitted to enter the tank C through the pipe 77. This will force the fuel in the tank C into the extension 12 and through the conduit 12 to the main conduit 10. A check valve 93 will close and the check valve 93 will open. The fuel will pass into the housing forcing the valve therein to open position and the fuel will pass through the openings 86 to the tank. When the tank is filled from the storage tank to a predetermined level the float 89 will be raised and will close the port 87 and this closes the chamber 84 so that the differential pressure of the fluid on the valve will cause it to close and cut off further supply of fuel from the storage tank C to the tank A.

The check valve 93 will open and allow fuel to pass therethrough and into the branch conduit 12 for the filling of the storage tank. The storage tank C, the main tank A and the auxiliary tank B may all be supplied with fuel at the same time and when each tank is filled to a predetermined level therein the supply will be cut off to that tank without disturbing the supply to the other tanks.

When it is desired to defuel the storage tank as well as the other tanks then the valve 96 is opened and this permits fuel to be drawn from the branch conduit 12 and the extension 12 into the main conduit pipe and around the check valve 91 by the by-pass conduit 94. When it is desired to defuel the tanks the nozzle 23 is attached, the valve 28 in the nozzle opened and this will open the valve 19.

In Figure 6 there is shown a slightly modified form of arrangement for transferring the fuel from the storage tank C to the main tank A. The coupling 91 shown in Figure 1 and the float valve and housing associated therewith are omitted. There is a coupling 97 in the main conduit 10 and this coupling is located between the branch pipe 11 leading to the tank A and the branch pipe 14 supplying fuel to the system. There is a check valve 98 in this coupling. There is a by-pass conduit 94 similar to that shown in Figure l with the hand control valve 96. When it is desired to transfer the fuel from the storage tank to the tank A with the conduit arrangement shown in Figure 6 the tank C is put under pressure and the fuel will pass upwardly through the extension 12, the conduit 12 to the main conduit 10 and is free to flow to the branch conduit 11 and then through this conduit 11 into the tank. The check valve 97 will close so that the fuel will all be directed into the tank A. When it is desired to defuel tank C as well as tank A then the hand valve 96 is opened so that the fuel can by-pass the check valve 97 and pass out through the conduit 14.

In Figure 7 there is a further modified arrangement wherein the by-pass conduit 94 is omitted and a hand valve 99 having a passage 100 therethrough is placed in open position for fueling and defueling the tanks A and C and is closed when it is desired to transfer the fuel from the storage tank C to the tank A.

From the above description it will be noted that all fueling and defueling conduits are through the top of the fuel tanks in the present embodiment of the invention and is through piping which is completely separated from the regular fuel system piping. By this arrangement there are no connections or openings added to the sides or bottoms of the fueling tanks and the regular fuel system is never under pressure except when fueling and can be drained after fueling by connecting a draining nozzle to the branch conduit 14. Draining of the conduits and the tanks may be accomplished by siphoning or by suction of a defueling pump connected to the nozzle 23.

'It is obvious that many changes in details of construction and the arrangements illustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fueling system, two or more tanks, a main conduit having a valve controlled opening through which the tanks may be filled or drained, a branch conduit extending into each tank and connecting each tank to the main conduit, a filling extension connected within each tank to each branch conduit and extending to a point adjacent the top of the tank, a float operated valve within each tank and associated with the filling extension for closing the same when fuel in the respective tank reaches a predetermined level, a defueling extension connected within each tank to each branch conduit and leading from said branch conduit to a point adjacent the bottom of the respective tank, and a check valve in said defueling extension for closing the same while the tanks are being filled.

2. -In a fueling system, two or more tanks, a main conduit having a valve controlled opening through which the tanks may be filled or drained, a branch conduit extending into each tank and connecting each tank to the main conduit, a filling extension connected within each tank to each branch conduit and extending to a point adjacent the top of the tank, a float operated valve within each tank and associated with the filling extension for closing the same when fuel in the respective tank reaches a predetermined level, a defueling extension connected within each tank to each branch conduit and leading from said branch conduit to a point adjacent the bottom of the respective tank, a check valve in said defueling extension for closing the same while the tanks are being filled, and another check valve in said filling extension for closing the same when the tank is being drained.

3. In a fueling system, two or more tanks, a main conduit having a valve controlled opening through which the tanks may be filled or drained, a branch conduit extending into each tank and connecting each tank to the main conduit, a filling extension connected within each tank to said branch conduit and extending to a point adjacent the top of the tank, a float operated valve within each tank and associated with the filling extension for closing .the same when fuel in the respective tank reaches a predetermined level, a defueling extension connected within each tank to each branch conduit and leading from each branch conduit to a point adjacent the bottom of the respective tank, a check valve in said defueling extension for closing the same while the tank is being filled, and a float operated valve at the end of said defueling extension for closing the same when the tank has been drained to a predetermined level.

4. In a fueling system, two or more tanks, a main conduit having a valve controlled opening through which the tanks may be filled or drained, a branch conduit extending into each tank and connecting each tank to the main conduit, a filling extension connected within each tank to each branch conduit and extending to a point adjacent the top of the tank, afloat operated valve within each tank and associated with the filling extension for closing the same when fuel in the respective tank reaches a predetermined level, a defueling extension connected within each tank to each branch conduit and leading from said branch conduit to a point adjacent the bottom of the respective tank, a check valve in said defueling extension for closing the same while the tank is being filled, a float operated valve at the end of said defueling extension for closing the same when the tank has been drained to a predetermined level, and a check valve in the filling extension for closing the same during defueling.

5. In a fueling system, a main tank and a storage tank, a main conduit having a valve cont-rolled opening through which the tanks may be filled or drained, a branch conduit extending into each tank and connecting said tank to the main conduit, a float operated valve within each tank and associated with the respective branch conduit for closing the same when fuel in the. respective tank reaches a predetermined level, a defueling extension within said storage tank and leading from adjacent the bottom of the storage tank to the branch conduit therein, a third branch conduit connecting the main tank with the main conduit, a second float opera-ted valve in the main tank and associated with the third branch conduit for closing the same when fuel in the tank reaches a predetermined level, and means for admitting air under pressure to the storage tank whereby fuel therein will be forced through the defueling extension, the associated branch conduit, the portion of the main conduit between said storage tank branch conduit and said third conduit, and through the third branch conduit to the main tank.

6. in a fueling system, a main tank and a storage tank, a main conduit having a valve controlled opening through which the tanks may be filled or drained, a branch conduit extending into each tank and connecting said tank to the main conduit, a float operated valve within each tank and associated with the respective branch conduit for closing the same when fuel in the respective tank reaches a predetermined level, a defueling extension within said storage tank and leading from adjacent the bottom of the storage tank to the respective branch conduit, a third branch conduit connecting the main tank with the main conduit, a second float operated valve in the main tank and associated with the third branch conduit for closing the same when liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level, and means for admitting air under pressure to the storage tank whereby fuel therein will be forced through the defueling extension, the associated branch conduit, the portion of the main conduit between said storage tank branch conduit and the third conduit, and through the third branch conduit to the main tank, a check valve in the main conduit between the third branch conduit and the fueling conduit in the main tank, a bypass conduit connecting the main conduit on opposite sides of the check valve, and a valve in said bypass conduit for opening and closing the same whereby said storage tank can be defueled through the bypass conduit and the valve controlled opening.

7. In a fueling system, a main tank and a storage tank, a main conduit having a valve controlled opening through which the tanks may be filled or drained, a branch conduit extending into each tank and connecting said tank to the main conduit, a float operated valve within each tank and associated with the respective branch conduit for closing the same when the fuel in the respective tank reaches a predetermined level, a defueling extension within the storage tank leading from adjacent the bottom of the storage tank to the respective branch conduit, a check valve in said defueling extension for closing the same while the tanks are being filled, conduit means including said defueling extension and the branch conduit associated therewith connecting the storage tank to the main tank, means for admitting air under pressure to the storage tank for forcing fuel therein through said conduit means to the main tank, and a float operated valve within said main tank and associated with said conduit means for closing the same when fuel within the main tank has reached a predetermined level.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,335,093 Copetta Mar. 30, 1920 1,407,374 Buckendale Feb. 2'1, 1922 1,537,687 Morris May 12, 1925 1,567,570 Catron Dec. 29, 1925 2,028,302 Thomson Jan. 21, 1936 2,178,564 Crocker Nov. 7, 1939 2,384,628 Krone et al Sept. 11, 1945 2,440,262 Grey et al Apr. 27, 1948 2,548,354 Davies Apr. 10, 1951 2,556,221 Samiran June 12, 1951 2,557,438 Johnson June 19, 1951 2,580,467 Samiran Ian., 1, 1952 

